Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I was raised in the greater metropolitan area of Los Angeles, California where the ground itself occasionally rocks and rolls and we have 10,000-foot high mountains to the south and east, the deserts just past them, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Case closed!

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason would you give them to become a part of our community?

I would tell them that WikiAnswers lets them tap into a worldwide network of information, and just possibly their answers will help someone that they may never meet.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

I am mildly proud of having been in the right place at the right time so many times, and of just being myself. Life happens, if you let it.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you?

While doing about 55 mph in the fast lane on the freeway, I once dodged a cartwheeling 4-foot by 4-foot panel of particle board, skidded, lost control of the skid, and then did a complete 360-degree spin while going under an overpass –effectively slowing a pack of about 15 cars. When I brought the car to a stop, I was safely in the shoulder lane. Shaken, not stirred! Whew; that was close! It’s a wonder we all missed it.

What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done?

I crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a 10-meter motor-sailboat with my father, and my eldest brother. It took 44 days, 36 of which were without sight of land. Prior to embarkation, our last port of call was Ceuta, Spain on the African continent. We stopped there for a hull-scraping to remove barnacles.

What were some of the highlights of the trip?

According to ancient maritime tradition, if your ship is escorted at the beginning of your voyage by dolphins, your crew will survive the trip. The ship and the cargo may not make it, but the crew will survive. We were escorted out of the Mediterranean by seven pods of dolphins that were heading into the Mediterranean Sea. They changed direction to escort us a short way before continuing their journey eastward. That was quite moving.

Six days later we docked at Funchal in the Madeira Islands. After a brief visit, we headed west by southwest, running wing and wing all the way. We arrived at St. John’s Harbour in the British Virgin Islands 38 days later. It took me four days to get my land legs back!

Did you have any incidents along the way?

We were followed by a an unidentified, possibly dangerous amorous 35-foot long whale for a day and a half. Boats that get ‘whaled’ often go underwater within 30 seconds. Then, when we were 1,000 miles out we picked up a hitchhiker: a very winded small bird that rested for about 25 minutes before bravely heading eastward again.

Land ho! occurred 30 minutes before it was obscured by fog. Sombrero Island, with its highest point at 39 feet above sea level, was our landmark into the Caribbean Sea. The saying, “What a trip” has had special meaning for me ever since!

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to undertake a similar trip?

The only advice I would proffer to other hardy souls who want to undertake a trip like this is to choose a bigger boat and a larger crew.

What is your favorite type of music?

There’s just something I like about a screaming guitar. Classical, Spanish, bass, steel, electric… they’re all good. And I am awed by the multiplicity of talents of the members of The Moody Blues.

What was the last song you listened to? (***Spoiler alert!)

The best part of the YouTube version of Act Naturally by Buck Owens and Ringo Starr is at the very end when Mr. Owens walks up and tells Mr. Starr that it’s time to go…

What is your favorite song?

Though there are many, I do like the lyrics to Collision of Worlds by Robbie Williams and Brad Paisley. Adele’s fantastic and she’s got some great songs. I’d love to see her in concert.

Who is your favorite poet?

My ‘favorite poet’ is the good doctor himself, Dr. Seuss. His works inspired me (and a few others) to enjoy reading, from a very early age.